1 samuel 21:6 - So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
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What does "1 samuel 21:6" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 21:6 describes a specific and somewhat unusual situation where David, fleeing from Saul, asks the priest Ahimelech for food for himself and his men. Let's break down the verse:
"So the priest gave him holy bread...": This is the main action. Ahimelech provides David with bread.
"...for there was no bread there but the show bread...": This explains why the bread given was significant. There was no ordinary bread available at the sanctuary.
"...that was taken from before Yahweh...": This identifies the specific bread as the "show bread" or "bread of the Presence." This was a special offering of twelve loaves of bread placed before the Lord in the tabernacle or temple each Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9).
"...to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.": This clarifies the process. The show bread was removed to be replaced with fresh, newly baked loaves on the Sabbath. The bread that was removed was then typically eaten by the priests.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is this:
David asked the priest Ahimelech for food, but the only bread available was the consecrated "show bread" that had been removed from the altar of the Lord that very day (presumably Saturday, as it was replaced every Sabbath). Because there was no other bread available, the priest, under extenuating circumstances, gave David and his men the holy bread to eat.
Significance:
Necessity vs. Ritual: This story highlights a conflict between the rigid requirements of religious law and human necessity. David and his men were hungry, and the priest prioritized their immediate need over the typical rules for the disposition of the show bread.
David's Status: The fact that the priest was willing to give David the holy bread suggests David was seen as having a special relationship with God. David and his men, however, needed to be ritually pure in order to partake of the holy bread (1 Samuel 21:4).
Jesus's Reference: This event is later referenced by Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5). Jesus uses the story to defend his disciples for gleaning grain on the Sabbath, arguing that human need can sometimes take precedence over strict adherence to religious rules. In doing so, He asserts his authority in interpreting and applying God's law.
In summary, 1 Samuel 21:6 describes the priest providing David with holy bread, highlighting a moment where compassion and necessity overrode the normal ritual procedures.
1 samuel 21:6 - So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the show bread that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
What does "1 samuel 21:6" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 21:6 describes a specific and somewhat unusual situation where David, fleeing from Saul, asks the priest Ahimelech for food for himself and his men. Let's break down the verse:
"So the priest gave him holy bread...": This is the main action. Ahimelech provides David with bread.
"...for there was no bread there but the show bread...": This explains why the bread given was significant. There was no ordinary bread available at the sanctuary.
"...that was taken from before Yahweh...": This identifies the specific bread as the "show bread" or "bread of the Presence." This was a special offering of twelve loaves of bread placed before the Lord in the tabernacle or temple each Sabbath (Leviticus 24:5-9).
"...to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.": This clarifies the process. The show bread was removed to be replaced with fresh, newly baked loaves on the Sabbath. The bread that was removed was then typically eaten by the priests.
Therefore, the meaning of the verse is this:
David asked the priest Ahimelech for food, but the only bread available was the consecrated "show bread" that had been removed from the altar of the Lord that very day (presumably Saturday, as it was replaced every Sabbath). Because there was no other bread available, the priest, under extenuating circumstances, gave David and his men the holy bread to eat.
Significance:
Necessity vs. Ritual: This story highlights a conflict between the rigid requirements of religious law and human necessity. David and his men were hungry, and the priest prioritized their immediate need over the typical rules for the disposition of the show bread.
David's Status: The fact that the priest was willing to give David the holy bread suggests David was seen as having a special relationship with God. David and his men, however, needed to be ritually pure in order to partake of the holy bread (1 Samuel 21:4).
Jesus's Reference: This event is later referenced by Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5). Jesus uses the story to defend his disciples for gleaning grain on the Sabbath, arguing that human need can sometimes take precedence over strict adherence to religious rules. In doing so, He asserts his authority in interpreting and applying God's law.
In summary, 1 Samuel 21:6 describes the priest providing David with holy bread, highlighting a moment where compassion and necessity overrode the normal ritual procedures.